Container handling means



March 13, 1945. E. R ALLING mm.

CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS Filed April 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arrow/v5Y6.

E. R. ALLING ETAL CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS.

March 13, 1945.

' Filed April 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 E W W A March 13, 1945. E. R.ALLING ETAL 2,371,140

CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS Arromvm sQ March 13, 1945. ALLl-NG HAL2,371,140

vCJONIAINER HANDLING MEANS Filed April 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 i g?HIM.

ATTO/P/VEYi,

March 13, 1945. E. R. ALLING EIAL 2,371,140

CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS Filed April 25, 1 941 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 March13, 1945. E. R. ALLING ETAL 2,371,140

I CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS Filed April 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 March13, 1945. E. R. ALLING ETAL CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS Filed April 25,1941 8-Sheets-Shee t 7 March 13, 1945. E. R. ALLING ET AL CONTAINERHANDLING MEANS Filed April 25, 1941 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Mar. 13,1945 CONTAINER HANDLING MEANS E. Roy Ailing, Kenmore, and John C.Knepflar,

Springville, N. Y.; said Knepflar asslgnor to Rice and AdamsCorporation, Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationApril 25, 1941, Serial No. 390,400

22 Claims.

This invention relates to washers for containers of various types, andparticularly to bottle washers.

An object of thi invention is to improve washers of this type andminimize the danger of breakage of containers and of the washermechanism in th event of some abnormal operating condition in thewasher.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved washer forcontainers of different types in which the containers are cleaned whilebeing conveyed by a suitable conveyor in a selected path, with which thecontainers are loaded and discharged in a simple and eflective manner,with which maximum possible time will be allowed for placing containersto be washed in position to be loaded, with which the jamming of acontainer while being loaded or discharged will automatically andpromptly, and in a simple manner, interrupt the application ofpower tothe conveyor and also render the source of power ineffective in order tominimize possible injury to the containers so jammed or to the washermechanism, with which as soon as the loading of a container into apocket is initiated, a new contalner may be placed in position to beloaded without waiting for the completion of the loading operation thenunder way, and with which the loading means may be incapacitated tofacilitate the clearing of jammed containers without interferring withthe operation of said conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved power-operatedwasher, with which the improper loading of a container into theconveyor, or improper or incomplete discharge of a container from theconveyor, may cause an immediate termination of the operation of thewasher before damage to the containers or the washing apparatus mayoccur.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved washer forcontainers which will b safe in operation, which will offer the maximumof protection against injury to containers and the washer in case ofinadvertent obstruction or jamming of the mechanism, which will berelatively simple and easy to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bottle washerin which there will be a minimum of wasteful splashing, or mixing of theinitial rinse liquid with other bodies of washing liquid, and which willbe effective and economical in operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of part of a bottle washer constructed inaccordance with this invention, and showing somewhat diagrammaticallythe application thereto of improved safety features;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation through the loading anddelivery end of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation somewhat similar to Fig. 2, butillustrating the stage in the operation of the washer in which a bottlehas just been loaded into the conveyor at the loading station and acleaned bottle discharged therefrom at the unloading station;

Fig. 4 is a sectional levation through the bottle loading means at anintermediate point in its loading movement;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a stillfurther step in the loading of a bottle into the conveyor;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 4, but showing thepositions of the parts during a return of the bottle advancing member toinitial or starting position;

Fig. 7 is another sectional elevation of a portion of the bottle loadingmechanism showing a still different position of the parts during thereturn of the bottle loading member to its initial or starting position;

Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional elevation, approximately along theline 8-8 of Fig. 3, through a portion of the bottle loading member toshow certain detail of construction;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan of a portion of the bottle loading means, thesection being takenapproximately along the line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a transverse, sectional elevation, approximately along theline Ill-l0 of Fig. 3, through the washer at the loading end thereof toillustrate the bottle loading member and its relation to the guides;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a portion of the loading end of thewasher and showing different positions that may be assumed by the partsin a loading operation;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation through a part of the washer, thesection being taken approximately along the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the fingers forming a part of thebottle loading means;

Fig. 14 is a transverse, sectional elevation through a portion of themachine, the section being taken approximately along the line l4l4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of one of the arms {)orming a part of thebottle advancing mem- Fig, 16 is a longitudinal, sectional elevationthrough a part of the mechanism, the section being taken approximatelyalong the line Iii-l8 of Fig. 18 and illustrating the normal engagementof the bottle loading member with the shiftable abutment which controlsits movement:

Fig. 1'7 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 16 but illustratingthe relative positions of the parts during an abnormal operation of themechanism:

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs.16 and 17, the section being taken approximately along the line lO-ll ofFig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a transverse, sectional elevation of i the mechanism of Figs.16 to 18, the section being taken approximately along the line 12-" ofFig. 16;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of a portion of a washer on a somewhatlarger scale than Fig. 1, with the housing for a solenoid broken away toshow the interior mechanism and the manner in which the clutch islatched in power transmitting condition;

Fig. 21 is a transverse, sectional elevation through the portion of thewasher shown in Fig.

Fig. 22 is a transverse, sectional elevation of the part shown in thelower end of Fig. 21, but illustrating the relative positions of theparts when the clutch is released;

Fig. 23 is a transverse, sectional elevation of a portion of the washerand illustrating the safety mechanism associated with the bottles beingdischarged, the section being taken approximately along the line 23-43of Fig. 2;

Fig. 24 is a transverse, sectional elevation through the clutchmechanism, the section being taken approximately along the line 24-24 ofFig. l,' with the clutch in power transmitting condition;

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig, 24, but with the I clutch in idle ornon-driving condition, and;

Fig. 26 is a sectional plan through a part of the mechanism shown inFig. 24, the section being taken approximately along the line 26--26 ofFig. 24.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the washer may be of anysuitable type such as one in'which an endless, flexible conveyor I (Fig.l) is conducted in a selected path through a housing 2, this being shownsomewhat diagrammatically in Fig. l by the dash lines separated by smallcircles. Washers using endless chains or conveyors of this type arecommon in the art. These conveyors or chains are provided with aplurality of pockets 3 which are supported on the conveyor in horizontalrows (Fig. 10), and these rows are arranged in succession along theconveyor in the direction of movement of the conveyor. The bottles orcontainers to be washed are loaded into the pockets 3 and unloadedtherefrom at the same end of the machine, and for this purpose it iscustomary to have a somewhat reverse bend in the path of travel of thepockets at the loading and unloading end of the washer, as shown by thediagrammatic illustration of the path of the conveyor in Fig. 1. a

At this loading and unloading end of the washer, the pockets 3 aredescending in an approximately vertical path through unloading position,then the pockets are carried in .a path which is inclined to bothvertical and horizontal for a short distance, and the bottles are loadedinto the pockets while in this inclined portion of the path of movement.The conveyor is preferably made of connected links forming two aevnuochains.oneoneachsideofthehousingonthe inside thereof, which chains havecorrup'onding links connected to one another from side to side bymembers carrying therein the pockets of a row, all of which is wellknown in the art. From this inclined portion of the path, representing aloading position, the pockets descend'into a soaking tank or chamber 4(Fig. 2) in which the bottles or containers are disposed upright so asto fill automatically with the liquid in the tank 4 and soak while theyare being moved in succession through this soaking tank. This conveyoris advanced step by step. with intervals of rest between theincrementsof movement, by any suitable mechanism, and in the particular exampleillustrated. this advancement of the conveyor is obtained by operationof a pair of pawls 5 (Fig. 1), one on each side of the machine andengageable with the links of the chain at each side of the housing. Eachpawl 5 is connected at B to an arm i which is fixed on a shaft 1 thatextends crosswise of the housing at the top thereof.

The shaft 8 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings at the top of thehousing, and an arm 8 is fixed on the shaft 8 at one end thereof, whichhappens to be at the side of the housing opposite the side face shown inFig. 1. The free end of the arm 8 is pivotally connected by a pin to oneend of a link ii, and the latter includes therein between its ends, alost motion and slip connection i2. At its other end the link II isconnected to a crank arm l3 fixed on a shaft II, which also extendscrosswise of the housing from side to side and is suitably mounted forrotation. The shaft H at one end thereof, which is the end shown in Fig.1, carries a gear I! which meshes with and is driven by a speedreduction mechanism enclosed in a housing It. Said speed reductionmechanism is in turn driven by a pulley i1 (Figs. v1, 24 and 25). Thepulley I! has a brake drum l8 projecting from one end face thereof for apurpose which will appear shortly. The pulley I1 is driven by a belt l9which also operates over a suitable pulley 20. The pulley 20 is fixed ona motor shaft 2| of a motor M which serves as a source of power foroperating the conveyor in a step by step movement as well as themechanism for loading and unloading the containers.

Referring particularly to Figs. 24 and 25, the pulleys I! and 20 and thebelt 19 form part of what may be considered a clutch for transmittingpower from the driving pulley 20 to the driven pulley [1. The belt I9 isnormally of such length that when free it is slack, as shown in Fig. 25,and slips on the pulleys so, as to exert no substantial driving actionbetween them. An idler pulley 22 is rotatably supported on the end of anarm 23 which is fixed on shaft 24. Said shaft 24 extends in a directionendwise of the washer, as shown in Fig. 1, and is rotatably supported insuitable bearings 25 on the outside of the housing. The shaft 24 alsocarries an arm 26 to which is connected one end of a sprin 21, the otherend of the spring being suitably anchored to the housing 2 as shown inFig. 1. This spring 21 urges the arm 28 and the shaft 24 in a clockwisedirection in F18. 24, so as to carry pulley 22 in a direction away fromthe belt is. The shaft 24 also carries, adjacent the loading andunloading end of the housing, a latch arm 28 (Figs. 20 and 22) fixedthereon, and this arm 28 has a; notch 29 at its free end whichcooperates with a latch dog 30. The dog 30 is pivoted is so rocked, thenotch 29 will be carried beyond the end of the dog 38, whereupon the dogwill fall into the notch as shown in Figs. 21 and 24. This releasablyprevents movement of the shaft 24 in the opposite direction under theaction of the spring 21. The dog 30 thus holds the idler pulley in belttightening position which is the-driving condition of the clutch formedof above described pulleys and belt. The shaft 24 carries an arm 33(Figs. 20 and 22), which is fixed thereon and pivotally connected by pin34 to one end of a link 35'. The other end of link 35 is pivotallyconnected by a pin 35 to the free end of an arm 31 which extends fromand is fixed to a counter-shaft 38. The shaft 38 is rockably mounted insuitable bearings 39 on the side wall of the housing, extends into aposition adjacent the loading end of the machine, and there mounts anoperating handle 45. By rocking the handle 40, the link 35 may beshifted endwise to rock the arm 33 and the shaft 24 in a direction tocarry the arm 28'into latching engagement with the dog 30, and therebyshift the idler pulley 22 into its belt tightening position. During suchmovement the spring 21 is further tensioned. I

When the dog 30 is operated to release the arm 28 on shaft 24, thespring 21 rocks the shaft 24 to carry the idler pulley 22 from thedriving position shown in Fig. 24 to the idle position shown in Fig. 25and thereby interrupts the driving action between the pulleys I1 and 25.When the driving power to the pulley I1 is interrupted in this manner bya slacking of the belt 19, it is often desirable to stop the movement ofthe mechanism driven from the pulley I! as quickly as possible, and forthat purpose, a pair of brake arms 4| (Figs. 24 and 25) are hinged upona bearing pin 42 which is supported in bearing arms 43 (Figs. 24 and 26)carried by and pro- Jecting from the side wall of the housing 2. Thearms 4| at their free ends are oppositely and arcuately curved to extendin opposite directions partially around the drum l8, and each arcuateend of an arm is provided with a brake shoe or pad 44 of suitablefriction creating material, such as, for example, the brake shoematerial or lining used on the brakes of automobiles. The two arms 4|are independently rockable on the pin 42, but are urged towards oneanother by a spring 45 which bears against one of the arms 4| andsurrounds a rod 45 extending from the other arm 4| through thefirst-mentioned arm. The spring 45 bears, under compression, against ahead 41 on the rod 45. This spring 45 thus tends to draw the brake shoearms 4| toward one another and in a direction to engage between them thebrake drum l8.

Disposed between the drum l8 and the pin 42 as well as between the arms4| is a cam 48 which is fixed on a shaft 49 (Fig. 25) that is rockablymounted in the free ends of the bearing arms 43. An arm 50 is fixed onone end of the shaft 45, and the free end of that arm is pivotallyconnected by pin 5| to one end of a link 52, the other end of which linkbeing pivotall connected by pin 53 to the free end of an arm 54 which isalso fixed on the shaft-'24. When the shaft 24 is rocked from theposition shown in Fig. 24 to that shown in Fig. 25, so as to carry theidler pulley 22 into belt loosening position, the arm '54 will actthrough the link 52 to rock the .cam 48 from the position shown in Fig.24 where it holds the arms 4| separately from one another and out ofengagement with the brake drum |8 on pulley ll, into a position in whichit releases the arms 4| and allows the spring 45 to clamp the brakelinings 44 firmly against the drum I8 and stop further rotation ofpulley 1.. When the shaft 24 is rocked back into the position in whichit places the idler pulley 22 in belt tightening position, the cam 48will be rocked back into the position shown in Fig. 24 where it forciblyseparates the arms 4| and removes the brake linings 44 from engagementwith the drum I8.

Also fixed on the shaft i4 is a cam 55 (Fig. 1),

and a roller 55, which is pivotally mounted on an arm 51, rolls alongthe peripheral edge of the cam 55. The arm 51 is rockably mounted at itslower end in a suitable bearing 58, and the other or upper end of arm 51is pivotally connected by a pin 55 to one end of a link 50, the otherend of said link being pivotally connected by a pin 5| to one arm of alever 52. Lever 52 is fixed on a shaft 53 which also extends crosswiseof the housing 2 from side to side, and is rotatably supported thereby.The other arm of the lever 52 is pivotally connected by a pin 54 to oneend of a link.55 (Figs. 10 and 11 also). The other end of the link 55 ispivotally connected to a pin 55. The pin 55 extends laterally from thelink 55 and through a slot 51 provided in a sector shaped arm or element58 which is fixed on a shaft 59. Shaft 59 extends from side to side ofthe housing across the interior thereof at the loading end of themachine, and is rockably supported in the suitable bearings 10 (Fig.10). The slot 51 is shown as concentric to the shaft 59, and the pin 55(Figs. 18 and 19) at the side of the element 58 opposite from the link55 is provided with an encircling washer II which is confined againstthe side of the slot portion of element 58 in any suitable manner suchas by a cotter pin 12. A similar washer I3 is confined on the oppositeend of pin 55 by a cotter pin 14(Fig. 18). This prevents disengagementof the link 55 and pin 55 from the element 58.

A spring 15 is connected at one end through a rod 15 (Figs. 1, 10 and11) to the element 58 and at its other end to the housing 2. Ityieldingly, resiliently and continuously urges the element 58 in adirection for clockwise rotation in Fig. 11, and so as to normallymaintain one end of the slot 51 against the pin 55. The rod 15 passesthrough a sleeve 11 (Fig. 10) which is swivelled to one side of theelement 58, so that the spring 15 may pull in an approximately straightline as the element 58 rocks with the shaft 69. Suitable nuts on the rod15 which engage with the end of the sleeve 1'! enable the rod 15 to bedrawn through the sleeve 11 in a direction to tighten or loosen thespring 15 and thereby determine the tension which the spring 15 exertson the element 58 tending to press one end of the slot against the pin55 on the link 55. It will be noted that because of the slot 51, theelement 58 may be rocked with its shaft 59 counterclockwise in Fig. 11,during which the pin 55 will move along the slot 51 toward the righthandend of slot 51 in Fig. 11. The spring 15, however, normally holds theleft-hand end of slot 51 in Fig. 11 against the pin 55 and causes saidend of slot 51 to follow the pin 55 when the latter is moved to theright in Figs. 1 and 11.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 10, the shaft 53 extends across theinterior of the housing. and .within the interior has fixed thereon anarm 18 which is arcuate and convex at its free end. A fiexible strap orcable 18 is secured to the free end of the arm 18, depends over thisarcuate, convex. free end thereof and at its depending end supports aweight 88. This weight 88 urges the shaft 88 counter-clockwise in Figs.1 and 2, which is in a direction to maintain the roller 88 (Fig. 1)against the periphery of cam 88 as the roller follows the peripheralundulations of that cam.

Fixed on the shaft 88 (Fig. are a pair of arms 8| adjacent oppositesides of the inside of the housing 2. These arms are upstanding from theshaft 88 and each is provided intermediate of its ends with a slot 88(Fig. 18) that is elongated in a direction endwise of the arm. Each armis also provided at its free end with a notch 88 which is shown asopening into the end edge of the arm. A rod 84 (Fig. 10) extends acrossbetween the free ends of the arms 8| and through the notches 88. Theends of the rod 88 are threaded, and nuts 88 are threaded on each end ofthe rod on opposite sides of each arm 8|, so that by tightening the nutson the ends of the rod into engagement with the opposite faces of thefree ends of arms 8|, the ends of rod 88 will be firmly but removablyclamped to the free ends of the arms 8|. Another rod 88 (Fig. 10)extends between and through the arms 8|, that is, through the slots 82in the arms 8|, and between the arms 8| the rod 88 mounts a plurality offingers 81 (Fig. 13). For this mounting, the lower ends of the fingers81 are provided with notches or slots 88 which engage over the rod 88and are confined thereon by belts or screws 88 which tend to holdfingers against endwise movement along the rod 88 from the spacedrelation shown in Fig. 10.

Each finger 81 between its ends is also provided with a slot 98 (Fig.13) which is elongated in a direction endwise of the fingers, and therod 88 passes through the slots 88 of all of the fingers 81 and acts asa guide rod for keeping the fingers 81 in parallel relation to oneanother. Each arm 8| is provided, on its face towards the other arm,with an ear or lug 8|, and a rod 82 is slidingly mounted in an aperturein that car. Each rod 82 at its upper end is bifurcated or forked, withthe arms of the fork straddling the rod 88 and connected together by ascrew or bolt 88 beyond that rod (Figs. 8 and 10). A coil spring at Sunrounds each rod 82 and is compressed between the adjacent ear 9| and ashoulder on each rod 92 adjacent the forked end. The springs 84 thusyieldingly and continuously urge the rods 82 upwardly and, through thebifurcated ends of rods 82, yieldingly and continuously urge the rod 88upwardly so as to push the fingers 81 upwardly until the rod 88 engagesthe upper endsof the slots 82 in the arms 8|, as shown in Fig. 8.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that the two arms 8| are fixedon the shaft 68 in parallel relation to one another, and because of thenature of the connections thereto of the rods 88 and 86, the rods 84 and88 and the fingers 81 front of the conveyor and extends from adiacentthe loading sons or position in the inclined portionof the path of theconveyor, outwardly towards the adjacent end of the housing as shown inFig. 2. This guide is shown as including a sheet metal plate 88 which issupported at one end on a cross-bar 88 (Pig. 2) and at its outer endupon the upstanding wall 81 of an auxiliary housing which is disposed infront of the upwardly extending bottom wall 88 of the tank 8. This plate88 has a downwardly indented, angular portion 88 adjacent its outer end(Pig. 2), and from the lower end of this portion 88 the plate extendsupwardly at a small inclination to the horizontal, and then generallyhorizontally toward the conveyor with the pockets. Thus, the bottles orcontainers to be washed may be disposed on this guide with the bottomsabutting and resting against this angular portion 88 as shown by theposition of a bottle on the plate 88 in Fig. 2. The plate 88 is providedwith parallel slots I88 which run lengthwise thereof, that is, towardthe conveyor with the pockets (Fig. 10) and the fingers 81 extendupwardly through the slots I88. 1

Supported on the plate 88 between the slots and along the outer sides ofthe slots, are guide bars I 8| which decrease in width upwardly so as toform between them grooves in which the botties are received and kept inproper aligned position as they are'moved toward the pockets of theconveyor. The slots 8 in plate 88 extend that the fingers 81 into theangular end 88. may pass through the slots at the forward ends of themachine as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that there are as manyfingers 81, slots I88 and grooves for receiving. supporting and guidingbottles to the pockets of the conveyor, as there are pockets in ahorizontal row in the conveyor, and that the fingers 81, rods 84 and 88,the arms 8|, the shaft 88 and element 88 together function as a unitwhich oscillates to advance or push the bottles toward the conveyor, andfor that reason may be collectively referred to, when desired, as amember which advances the bottles or containers to the conveyor to loadthem in the pockets that are aligned at any time with the adjacent endof the guide grooves. The position of a row of the pockets of theconveyor that is aligned with the adjacent ends of the grooves forreceiving the bottles may also be considered as a loading position,because the bottles or containers are loaded into the pockets when thepockets are in that position of rest for the conveyor.

It is important that after a group of bottles resting on the plate 88has been started towards the pockets for loading therein, the attendantwill be able to start placing other containers or bottles on the guidesfor loading, and to aid this. provision is made for retracting thefingers 81 down into the slots in which they move, below' the paths ofthe bottles as the latter move along the guides toward the conveyor.This retraction or lowering of the fingers 81 takes place while thefingers are being returned to the starting position, after havingdelivered a group of bottles into a. horizontal row of pockets in theconveyor. The mechanism for accomplishing this retraction and thenrelease of the fingers 81 will now be described.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 to 9, the rod 88 extends beyondthe slots 82 of the arms 8| as shown in Fig. 8. and carries rollers IIIwhich are adjacent the side walls of the housing. A short bearing studI03 (Fig. 9) is provided on each side wall of the housing so as toextend toward one another within the housing, and on each of these studsare hinged cam plates I04 and I05 (Fig. 9), which plates at each side ofthe housing extend in opposite directions from one another. Anadjustable stop I06 is disposed beneath each plate I04 on the adjacentside wall of the housing, so as to limit the downward movement of thatplate I04 under the action of gravity, and its upper limit of movementis similarly limited by an adjustable abutment I01 also mounted on theinner face of the adjacent side wall of the housing. Each plate I04 istherefore free to move to a limited extent between the abutments I06 andI01, and this range of adjustment may be varied by adjustment of theabutments I06 and M1 in the mountings by which they are secured to theside walls of the housing. The free end of the plate I04 is bentarcuately upward as shown particularly in Fig. 6. Each plate I05 isyieldingly and resiliently urged upwardly by an individual spring I08,and such upward movement of each plate I05 is limited by an adjustableabutment I09 also mounted on the inside face of the adjacent side wallof the housing. The extent of this upward movement of each plate I05 maybe varied by suitable adjustment of the abutment I09 in its mounting onthe side wall of the housing.

The rollers I02 (Fig. 9) extend over these plates I04 and I05. When thefingers 81 are moved forwardly to shift a row of bottles toward thepockets in loading position, the rollers I02 will move above the platesI04 and I05 as shown by the dash line and arrow A in Fig. 4, but as thefingers 81 approach their limit of movement toward the conveyor pockets,the rollers I02 will engage with the upper faces of the plates I 05 andcam the plates I05 downwardly as shown by the difference in the dashlines and full lines for plate I05 in Fig. 5. Just before the fingers 81reach their forward limit of movement, the rollers I02 clear the freeends of plates I05, whereupon the springs I08 immediately raise theplates I05 to their upper positions against the abutments I09. As shownin Fig. 9, the free ends of plates I05 may be notched as at IIO todetermine the point of release of the plates I05. This is shown by theposition of the fingers 01 in Fig. 3 which is the extreme forward limitof movement of the fingers 01, after the bottles have been pushed fullyinto the pockets of the conveyor then in loading position During thereturn movement of the fingers 81, the rollers I02 will engage beneaththe plates I05, but since plate I05 is limited against further upwardmovement by the abutment I09, continued backward mov ment of the fingers81 will produce a camming action between the plates I05 and the rollersI02, which shifts the rollers I02 and the rod 06 toward the shaft 69with further compression of the springs 94. This movement is permittedby the slots 82 in the arms Ill and the slots 90 in the fingers 81. Thiswithdraws the fingers well down into the slots, and below the paths oftravel of the bottles or containers when moving along the guide as shownclearly in Fig. 6. As further return movement of the fingers 81 occurs,the rollers I02 will engage beneath the plates I04 and cam them upwardlyto the extent permitted by the stops or abutments I01 as shown in Fig.'7, and these plates I04 will keep the fingers 81 below the path of anybottles or containers resting on the guides until the fingers havepassed the shoulder portion 99 of the guide. When this happens, therollers I02 will clear the plates I04, and the springs 94 will thereuponshift the fingers 81 outwardly into positions behind the angular portion99 of the guide plate as shown in Fig. 2. The plates I04 will thenimmediately drop by gravity so that when the fingers 8'! again startforwardly, the rollers I 02 will pass over the plates I04 as shown inFig. 4. With such an-arrangement, as soon as the fingers 81 start topush a row of bottles or containers along the guides towards theconveyor, an attendant may start placing additional bottles orcontainers upon the guides at their outer ends, because the fingers 81in returning will move below the bottles or containers resting on thatguide.

When the bottles are first loaded into the conveyor as shown in Fig. 3and before the conveyor moves a new row of pockets into loadingposition, it is often desirable to pre-rinse the containers or bottlesso as to remove from them as much foreign matter as possible and preventcontamination of the cleaning solution with such foreign matter.Accordingly, we dispose across the interior of the housing and acrossthe lower ends of the pockets in the row in loading position, apre-rinse pipe III (Fig. 3) which has nozzles I I 2, one for each pocketin the row, for directing into the pockets, in a direction endwisethereof, a stream of rinsing liquid such as water. Since the bottles arein inclined positions while in the loading position, the rinse liquidwill immediately drain out and carry with it any foreign matter whichhas been loosened thereby.

It is undesirable to allow much of this prerinse liquid to drain intothe soaking tank 4, yet the tank 4 must be open at its top sufiicientlyto allow the conveyor with the bottles therein to descend into the tank.While some of the prerinse liquid draining out of the containers mayfall upon the top of the tank 4 and be diverted thereby to a suitabledrain, the amount diverted may be increased by a drip plate H3 (Figs. 3and 14) which is mounted to swing into a position between the row ofpockets in loading position and the next lower row of pockets which hasjust left the leading position. This drip plate H3 is secured at itsends to the free ends of depending arms II4 (Fig. 14). The arms II4 aresecured or fixed upon a shaft H5 which extends across the interior ofthe housing and is rotatably supported in bearings II6 on the insidefaces of the side walls of the housing. Also fixed on the shaft II5 arearms III which at their free ends carry laterally extending pins IIBthat are received in slots H9 provided in arms I20 fixed on the shaft63. This shaft 63 as explained above, is oscillated by the cam 55, arm51, link 60, and arm 62.

When the shaft 63 is rocked in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1, itreturns the bottle feeding fingers 81 back to the starting position, andthe arms I20 (Figs. 2 and 14) will also move clockwise in Fig. 2. ArmsI20 in turn, will rock arms I, shaft H5, and arms H4 in acounter-clockwise direction to withdraw the drip plate II3 from belowthe pockets and into the position shown in Fig. 2. During the time whenthe parts are in the Fig. 2 positions, the conveyor will be advanced onestep by the crank arm I3 to bring a new row of bottles into loadingposition. At the conclusion of the advance of the conveyor through onestep, the cam 55 will release the arm 51 and thereupon the shaft 63 willbe rocked by the weight in counter-clockwisedirection. This causes anadvance of the fingers 8'! that push a new, freshly placed row ofbottles into the pockets in loading position and counter-clockwiserocking of shaft 63 in Fig. 2 to shift the drip pan II3 into thecollecting position shown in Fig. 3. During this same movement thebottles which have been washed and which are descending in the conveyorjust above loading position are ejected so as to make room for otherbottles to be cleaned. This ejection is accomplished in a manner whichwill now be described.

Also fixed on the shaft 63 are arms I2I (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 14) which attheir free ends are provided with slots I22. Lugs I23 are secured on theinside face of each side wall of the housing and a rod I24 extendsbetween the lugs I23 on each side wall in approximate parallelism withthe axes of the pockets in the unloading position. Slidably mounted oneach rod I24 is a sleeve I25 and these sleeves I25 are connected rigidlytogether by a channel bar I26 (Figs. 2 and 14). Each sleeve I25 also hasa pin I21 extending laterally therefrom and which is slidably receivedin the slot I22 of the adjacent arm I2I so that when the arm I2I isrocked, it will shift the adjacent sleeve I25. Since the sleeves I25 areconnected to one another by the.channel bar I26 and the arms I2l rock inunison, the channel bar I26 will be shifted toward the pockets then inunloading position when shaft 63 is rocked counter-clockwise in Fig. 1.Arranged in spaced relation to one another across the channel bar I26and in alignment with the pockets of the row then in unloading positionare ejector bars I29, one for each pocket, and when the channel bar I 26is shifted toward the pockets, these ejector bars I 28 will enter thepockets and eject therefrom any bottles or containers then in thosepockets. Each ejector bar I28 has a reduced shank which extends throughand is slidably supported in an aperture in the bottom or web of thechannel bar, and at its end carries nuts I29 threaded thereon. A springI30 on each shank and acting between the web of the channel bar and thenuts I29 serves to hold the ejector rods I28 individually and yieldinglyagainst the bottom of the channel bar.

The bottles, when ejected from the pockets in unloading position, arereceived in short chutes I 3| (Figs. 2, 3, and 23) which are arranged ina row running crosswise of the housing on a common bar or support I 32that extends through slots I33 in the side walls of the housing. Theslots I33 are vertical and keep the bar I32 in the same position whileallowing movement thereof vertically, but the upper ends of the slotslimit the upward movement of the bar I32 to the proper bottle receivingposition shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each outer end of the bar I32, afterpassing through the adjacent slot I33, is provided with a depending rodI34 which is slidably mounted in a bearing I35 fixed on the outer faceof the adjacent side wall of the housing. A coil spring I36 surroundseach rod I34 between the bearing I35 and a suitable abutment on the rodI34 such as the lower edge of the bar I32. These springs I36 arenormally under compression and yieldingly urge the bar I 32 into aposition at its upper limit of movement as determined by the upper.

end of the slots I33, and yet the springs I36 yield and allow depressionof the bar I32 at either or both ends under pressure during an abnormaloperating condition which will be explained herein later.

To receive the bottles or containers discharged 3) extends across thehousing between the side walls thereof and at its ends is provided withdepending ears or lugs I98 fixed on short shafts I39 which extendthrough the housing walls and are rotatably supported therein. On one ofthese shafts I39 and exteriorly or the housing is fixed a crank arm I40which is pivotally connected at its free end by a pin I to a link I42.This link I42 is operated in a manner old in the art from a cam which iscontrolled or operated from the shaft I4, so that the platform I31 isrocked or tilted between its discharge position shown in Fig. 2 and itsbottle receiving position shown in Fig. 3 in proper timed relation tothe movements of the conveyor.

Just prior to the time when bottles are to be ejected from the conveyorpockets, the platform I31 is tilted into the inclined position shown inFig. 3 to receive the bottles, then, after the ejector rods I28 haveejected from the pockets in unloading position any bottles that weretherein, the platform is tilted into the upright position of Fig. 2.Each end of the platform has an upstanding side flange I 43 with agroove I44 on its inside face. A rod I45 (Figs. 2 and 3) extends fromend to end of the platform between the flanges I 43 and its ends run inthe grooves I44. This rod I45 is hinged by arms I48 to swingable arms 1-and at the proper time by means old in the art, the rod I45 is movedforwardly while the platform I31 is in its upright position. During thisforward movement, the rod I45 engages any hottles then resting on theplatform I 31 at a point slightly above the platform and pushes themlaterally from the platform over upon an endless, jointed conveyor I48(Fig. 2), which carries the cleaned bottles away from the washer such asto a filling machine. Inasmuch as the mechanism for tilting the platformI31 and for operating the rod I45 to push the bottles from the platformis old in the art, no' further description of the operating mechanism isbelieved necessary.

Disposed immediately below the platform I31 is a splash hood I49 whichmay conveniently be of sheet metal. It extends across the interior ofthe housing from side wall to side wall and is supported at its endsadjacent these side walls. This hood has a roof portion which isslightly inclined and disposed at an acute angle across the extendedaxis of the pockets in the row of said conveyor then in loading positionwhich also is the pre-rinsing position. Consequently, if there is nobottle in a pocket in loading position, the stream of water or rinsingliquid which would normally be stopped by the bottle in that pocket willengage the under face of the hood or shield I49 and be deflectedlaterally thereby. At its front and rear edges this hood or shield I49is flanged backwardly underneath the roof, and its edges are further andupwardly flanged so as to form shallow channels I50 and I 5I along thefront and rear edges of this hood in which the water or rinsing liquid,deflected by the roof portion of the shield or hood, may collect. I I

A pipe I52 drains oil. all of the liquid collecting in the channel I50and another pipe I53 opens from the channel I5I and conveys away all theliquid collected therein. A baille plate I54 is hinged at its upperedge, at its ends, in notches I 55 provided in plates I56 forming sidewalls of the hood I49. The plate I54 dangles freely from its pivotedupper edge towards the guide along which the bottles are shifted intoloading position, and will be cammed rearwardly and aside by the bottlesor containers moving along the guides toward loading position, yet willdrop back into vertical position as soon as the bottles or containershave passed. This baflle plate also aids in limiting the field of anysplashing liquid from the pre-rinse pipe that is not intercepted by abottle or container in the pockets in the con-- I59 is rocked in onedirection. The free end of the lever I59 is pivotally connected by a pinI6I to one end of a link I62 which has a swivel joint I63 includedtherein, and the other end of link I62 is bent angularly to form ahandle I64. The swivel joint I63 enables rotation of the handle and ofthe link with respect to the end which is pivoted by pin I6I to linkI59. The pivoted, handle-carrying end of link.I62 extends through anaperture I65 (Fig. 12) in a flange or lug I66 which extends laterallyfrom the housing at the forward end thereof. vertically, and the linkI62 slides freelytherethrough. The swivel end of the link- I62 alsocarries a pair of oppositely extending pins I61 which will pass throughthe slot I65 when the handle I64 is rotated to vertically position pinsI61, and the link I62 is drawn forwardly.

After the pins I61 have passed through the slot I 65, a turning orswivelling of the link I62 will place the pins I61 crosswise of the slotor aperture I65 and serve to releasably hold the link I62 in itsforwardly drawn position. as shown by the dash lines in Fig. 11, and thefull lines in Fig. 12. The lever I59 is normally at its rearwardposition shown by full lines in Fig. 11, at which time the handle I64 isadjacent the plate or flange I66. The pin- I60 on the arm I59 isnormally beyond the path of movement of the arm I 56 as the shaft 69 isrocked to cause a loading of the bottles into the pockets. If, however,a bottle or container should be jammed during movement of the sametowards the pockets in loading position, so that a complete loadingmovement of the fingers 61 cannot occur, the attendant may grasp thehandle I64, pull it outwardly or toward him, which will rock the leverI59 and through the pin I60 will engage arm I56 and rock shaft 69 in adirection towards its starting position. This will pull all of thefingers 61 back near starting position.

The handle I64 may then be rotated, as permitted by the swivel jointI63, to cause the pins I61 to pass through the slot I65 and then againrotated to place the pins I61 crosswise of the slot and hold the fingers61 all in substantially initial positions. This permits the attendant towork over the guides and remove any jammed container or bottle withoutdanger of the fingers 61 being released and suddenly moving toward theconveyor without warning. After the machine is placed in condition forfree operation, the attendant may rock the handle I 64 to release it andreturn it to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 11.

It is also desirable to provide means for stopping the source of powerand all the moving parts of the machine whenever any abnormal operatingThe slot I 65 is elongated condition in the washer occurs, such as thejamming of a bottle or container. Improvements in certain safetyfeatures for performing such functions form a part of this invention andwill now be described. The member 66 (Figs. 1619) is provided adjacentthe one end of the slot 61 with an auxiliary slot or recess I66 in whicha small bell crank lever I69 is disposed and pivotally supported such asby a pivot pin I10. One arm of this bell crank lever is disposed todepend into the slot or notch I66 and form an abutment or part of theend wall atone end of the slot 61 for engagement by the abutment or pin66. Theother arm of the bell crank lever I69 extendsupwardly through abranch "I of the slot I68 to engage against a switch button I12 of anelectric switch I13 which is supported on an angular bracket I14 alsofixed upon the upper end of the element 66.

A coil spring I15 acts between an abutment I16 in the slot I61 and thedepending arm of the bell crank lever I 69 so as to normally urge thelever I69 into the position shown'in full lines in Fig. 1'7 in which theswitch button I12 is depressed by reason of the pressure exerted by thecoil spring I 15. When the pin 66 on the link 65 abuts against the endof the slot 61 having this bell crank lever I69, it will rock the leverI69 from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 17 into the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 16, which releases the switch button I12 sothat the switch I13 may open. Therefore, if the pin 66 moves away fromthat end of, the slot 61, the.

r the contacts thereto are maintained.

Referring now particularly to-Figs. 1 and 20 to 23, a pair of safetyswitches I 19 and I60 are associated with the opposite ends of the barI32, so that one or both of these switches will be closed whenever thebar I32 is depressed in the slots I33 against the action of springs I36.Inasmuch as both switches I19 and I60 are of the same type and disposedon opposite sides of the housing, a description of switch I80 and themanner of its operation will apply also to the switch I19 and the mannerin which it is operated on the opposite side of the machine. The end ofthe bar I32 which extends through the slot I33 (Figs. 20 and 21),carries a transversely extending rod I6I which is provided with nuts I62on opposite sides of the bar I32, so that by shifting of the nuts I62and by threading them along the rod I6I, the rod I6I may be shiftedthrough bar I32 to different extents and thus caused to projectforwardly from the bar end I32 to a selected and adjustable extent.Tightening of the nuts I62 will securely clamp each rod I6I in anyposition.

A cam I63 is carried on the end of the rod I6I and it extends parallelto the direction of movement of the bar end I32 when the latter movesalong the slot I33. It has a portion I84-which clears the switch buttonI 65 of switch I60, and an inclined cam portion I66 which, when thebarI32 at that end is depressed in the slot I33, will engage the switchbutton I85 and cam it inwardly into switch I60 and cause a circuit inthe switch I60 to be completed. The remaining cam surface I66 isparallel to the portion I64 so that if bar I32 continues to movedownwardly, such continued movement of the bar I82 along slot I 33 willbe permitted without further pressure on the operating button I85 or theswitch I80. When the bar I32 returns to its upper position against theupper end of slot I33, the cam I83 will release the button I85 and allowthe switch I80 to open, it being understood that the switches I19 andI80 are both identical and of the normally open, but pressure-closedtype.

The use of these switches I13, I19 and I80 will now be explained.The-electric motor M (Fig. 1)

is supplied with operating current through line wires LI, L2 and L3 fromany suitable source of commercial current, and the circuit to the motorM may be made and broken by a starting switch I81. This switch I81 isillustrated as operated by an electro-magnet I88 of the solenoid type.When the solenoid I88 is energized, it carries three bridges intocircuit-completing relation between the parts of the line wires LI, L2and L3, and completes the circuit to the motor. The movable member ofthe switch I81 also carries a bridge contact I89 which, when solenoidI88 is energized, is adapted to bridge contacts I90 and ISI for apurpose which will appear presently. One terminal of the solenoid I88 isconnected by wire I92 to the line wire L3 and the other terminal ofsolenoid I88 is connected by wire I93 to contact I94 of a normallyclosed switch R, and the other contact I95 of that switch is connectedby a wire I96 to a contact I91 of a normally closed, stop switch I98.The other contact I99 of stop switch I 98 is connected by a wire 200 tothe contact I9I of the switch I81, and the contact I90 of that sameswitch is connected to the line wire LI.

The line wire LI is also connected by a wire 20I to a contact 202 of anormally open starting switch 203, and the other terminal of switch 203is connected to the wire 200. The wire 20I is also connected by a branchwire 204 to one contact of the normal open switch I 19 and by a branchwire 205 to one contact terminal of the normally open switch I80. Theother contact terminal of the switch I19 is connected by a wire 206 toanother electro-magnet in the nature of a solenoid 201. The other sideof the solenoid 201 is connected by a wire 208 to the line wire L3. Theother terminal contact of switch I80 is connected by a wire 209 to thewire 206, and the wire 206 is also connected by a branch wire 2I0 andone of the wires of the cable I11 to one terminal of the switch I13. Theother terminal of the switch 113 is connected through a wire of thecable I11 and a wire 2I I to the wire 20I which i directly connected tothe line wire LI.

The solenoid 201, when energized, operates a core or rod 2I2 (Fig. 20)which is connected to and operates a lever 2I3 that is hinged at 2I3 tothe housing 2. The lever 2I3 at its free end engages with and operatesthe movable switch element 2 I4 of the normally closed switch R havingthe terminals I94 and I95, so that whenever the solenoid 201 isenergized, it will rock the lever 2I3 and open theswitch R at thecontacts I94 and I 95. The lever 2I3 is also connected by a link 2I5 tothe latch dog 30 (Fig. 21) to cause a release of the arm 28 on shaft 24whenever the solenoid 201 is energized.

Assuming that the machine is in idle condition and it is desired tostart the same, the attendant operatm the start switch 203 whichcompletes a circuit as-follows: Line wire LI, wire 20I, contact 202 ofswitch 203, stop switch I98, wire I98, normally closed switch R, wireI88, solenoid I88, wire I92, line wire L3. This completes a circuitthrough solenoid I88 to energize it, whereupon it operates its core andcompletes a circuit through the line wires LI, L2 and L3 to the motor Mwhich starts the motor in operation. The core of solenoid I88 alsooperates bridge I88 and completes a holding circuit at the contacts I90and I9I as followsz Line wire LI,- contact I90, bridge I89, contact I9I,wire 200, stop switch I98, wire I96, switch R, wire I93, solenoid I88,wire I92, and line wire L3. This holding circuit is independent of thestarting swi ch 203, so that as soon as the solenoid I88 has beenenergized, the attendant may release the button of switch 203, and thesolenoid I 88 will remain energized until its circuit is broken by theoperation of the stop switch I98 or 'of the switch R.

The attendant then may operate the handle 40 which rocks the shaft 24through the mechanism shown in Figs. 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25, shifts theidler 22 into belt tightening position and starts the operation of theshaft I4. During this operation of shaft I4, the crank arm I3 willoperate the pawls or dogs 5 which engage the conveyor, advance it stepby step, and bring the rows of pockets of the conveyor successively intounloading position and then shortly thereafter into loading position.The pockets, after passing loading position, are carried through thesoaking tank 4 and then upwardly along the upper stretch of the conveyorwhere the soaking solution is drained out of bottles in the pockets andthe bottles are washed, rinsed and sterilized as is usual with soakertype bottle washers.

The cam operates in timed relation to the conveyor advancing means, andoscillates the shaft 63 to shift the abutment pin 66 to the right inFig. 1 and back. The spring 15 urges the element 68 to follow the pin 66which results in a movement of the row of fingers 81 toward the conveyorto push a group or row of bottles or containers resting on the guidestoward the conveyor and into the pockets then in loading position.Thereafter, fingers 81 are returned to their starting positions. Duringtheir return, the fingers 81 are cammed below the paths of the bottleson the guides until they approximately reach starting position and arethen released for movement outwardly into positions to push additionalbottles or containers, that may have been placed on the guides in themeantime, towards the conveyor pockets.

If a bottle should become stuck in its guide, or should not fully enterthe pockets in loading position, the finger 81 engaging that bottle willbe stopped, and this will stop all of the fingers and the element 88,with the result that the element 88 will no longer follow the pin 66.The pin 66 will then move along the slot 81, but as soon as the pin 68moves away from the end of the slot, the bell crank lever I69 (Figs. 16to 18), which until then was held in the position shown in Fig. 16, willbe released and its spring I15 will rock it into the position shown inFig. 17 where it operates the switch button I12 of switch I13. Thiscompletes a circuit as follows: From line wire LI, through wire 20I,contact 202 of the start switch, wire 2I I, switch I13, wire 2I0, wire208, solenoid 201, wire 208, and line wire L3. This completes a circuitthrough solenoid 201 which elevates its core 2| 2' and performs twofunctions, one of which is to open the switch R. and break the holdingcircuit through the solenoid I88, and the other of which is to pull upon the link 2|! and disengage the dog 80 fro the arm 28 which releasesthe shaft 28.

When the solenoid I88 is deenergized by breaking its holding circuit,its core I81 will drop, open the circuit to the motor, allow the motorto stop, and also break the holding circuit between contacts I80 andI8I. This holding circuit remains broken until it is re-established byreenergizing of solenoid I88 through operation of the switch 208. Therelease of the shaft 2 enables a rocking thereof by the spring 21 andarm 28 in a manner to remove the idler pulley 22 from belt tighteningposition, which immediately interrupts the transmission of power fromthe motor M to the shaft ll even before the motor M has stopped running.At the same time that the belt is slackened to interrupt the drivingconnection between the pulleys I1 and 20, the brake arms 4| are releasedand cause brake shoes 44 to engage the drum I8 on pulley I1 so as to aidfurther in bringing shaft I4 to a stop as quickly as possible, thusavoiding breakage of any bottles which may have been caught in themechanism.

The attendant then operates the handle I84 to pull all the fingers 81back near starting position and temporarily hold them there while thejammed bottle is cleared or any other obstruction removed. The handleI84 is then released and the fingers moved forwardly to the extentpermitted by the pin 88. Theoperator now may restart the machine byoperating the starting switch 203 and then again rocking the handle 40to again shift the idler pulley into belt tightening position on beltI9.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the bottles whenejected from the pockets are received in the chutes I8I and delivered tothe tiltable platform I31 which is then in tilted position to receivethe elected bottles. If a bottle is only partially ejected from thepockets, it will remain in the chute I3I and then, when the conveyorstarts to move, such bottle will be depressed against the chute I3I andwill depress it and the bar I32 at one or both ends against the actionof one or both springs I 38, and this depression of bar I32 will causethe cams I83 at one side or other of the machine to close the and 20B,solenoid 201, wire 208 and line wire L8.

This completes a circuit through the solenoid 201 and causes stoppage ofthe motor, loosening of the belt I9, and the application of the brakesto the drum I8 in the same manner as when the switch I13 is closed. Ifthe switch I19 is closed, it completes a circuit similar to thatcompleted by the switch I80, because wires 204 and 206 leading to switchI18 are connected in parallel to the wires 205 and 209 that lead to theswitch I80. Thus, if a bottle or container is jammed when being ejectedfrom the conveyor or in the process of being loaded thereon, safetyswitches will be immediately operated, and such operation not only willshut off the power to the motor but will also disconnect the motor fromthe mechanism driven thereby and apply brakes to the driven mechanism soas to obtain an exceptionally prompt stoppage oi the mechanism withminimum danger of breakage of the containers or damage to the washerapparatus.

Since an attendant is able to lock the loading fingers 81 back instarting position after they have been moved from any point in theirstroke, he can safely reach over into the machine and remove any jammedcontainer or obstruction of the mechanism without danger of injury fromthe feeding fingers through their sudden release when removing the causeof the 1am. It will be also noted that bottles may be effectivelyprerinsed in loading position without any material dilution of thesoaking liquid and without increasing the length of the washer, alsothat spattering of liquid upon the attendant, if a bottle is missingfrom a pocket during a prerinsing operation, is eii'ectively prevented.

It will be understood that while the invention has been described inconnection with the washing of bottles, it is applicable to the washingof other containers and articles where the same or similar problems areencountered, and the use of the term bottle in the claims is not to betaken as a strict limitation to bottles only.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, which havebeen herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature ofthe invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within theprinciple and scope of the invention as expressed in the appendedclaims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor movable along aselected path and having pockets to receive and move the containers,said pockets being movable in succession through a loading position,means for pushing a container into one of said pockets which is inloading position, driven means for operating said conveyor, a source ofpower, an interruptible driving connection between said source of powerand said driven means, means for holding said driving connection indriving relation between the source of power and said driven means, butreleasable to permit movement of said connection out of said drivingrelation, means for automatically shifting said interruptible connectionout of driving relation when said connection is released, and meansresponsive to an abnormal operating condition in the pushing of acontainer partially but not entirely into a pocket of said conveyor forreleasing said interruptible connection, whenever any containerpartially but not completely enters any of said pockets in loadingpositions.

2. In a container washer comprising a conveyor movable in a prescribedpath and having container receiving pockets arranged therealong formovement in succession through a loading position, a guide extendingaway from said loading position and operable to guide any containerresting thereon into a pocket in loading position, a member hinged torock on a fixed axis toward and from said loading position, meansslidingly mounted on said member for substantially straight linemovement approximately radial to said axis into and out of a position toengage behind a container resting on said guide and to push thatcontainer to loading position as said member rocks in one direction,means yieldingly urging said slidable means into said position, meansoperable automatically at the start of a return movement of said memberfrom adjacent said loading position for retracting said slidable meansout of said position sufiiciently to clear any container on said guide,and holding it retracted until it reaches substantially its startingposition behind any container resting on said guide, and means forcausing rocking movements of said member in timed relation to themovements of said conveyor in said path.

3. In a bottle washer comprising a conveyor chain having bottlereceiving pockets arranged therealong, means for advancing said chainstep by step with periods of rest between movements and including anelement through which power is received, a source. or power having apower delivering element operated thereby, a clutch in-- terposedbetween said elements, releasable means for holding said clutch indriving relation between said elements. means for urging said clutchinto non-driving relation between said elements when said clutch isreleased, brake means having actuating means separate from said urgingmeans connected to said first element and effective when released tostop the motion of that element and the chain advancing means, meanscontrolled by said clutch for holding said brake means inactive when theclutch is in driving relation, and releasing it when said clutch isreleased to cause a braking action automatically when said clutchinterrupts driving connection between said elements, and meansresponsive to an abnormal operating condition in said washer forreleasing said clutch.

4. In a bottle washer comprising a conveyor chain having bottlereceiving pockets arranged therealong, means for advancing said chainstep by step with periods of rest between movements and including anelement through which power is received, a source of power having apower delivering element operated thereby, a clutch interposed betweensaid elements, releasable mans for holding said clutch in drivi grelation between said elements, means for urging said clutch intonon-driving relation between said elements when said clutch is released,brake means connected to said first element and the chain advancingmeans, means controlled by said clutch and operable on said brake meansto cause a braking action automatically when said clutch interruptsdriving connection between said elements and releases said firstmentioned element when said clutch is in non-driving relation betweensaid elements, a solenoid, means controlled by the solenoid forreleasing said clutch, and switch means controlling said solenoid andoperable automatically upon the occurrence of an abnormal operatingcondition in said machine to cause a release of said clutch.

5. In a bottle washer comprising a conveyor chain having bottlereceiving pockets arranged therealong, means for advancing said chainstep by step with periods of rest between movements and including anelement through which power is received, a source of power having apower de ivering element operated thereby, a clutch interposed betweensaid elements, releasable means for holding said clutch in drivingrelation between said elements, means for urging said clutch intonon-driving relation between said elements when said clutch is released,brake means connected to said first element and eilective when operatedto stop the motion of that element and the chain advancing means, meanscontrolled by said clutch and operable on said brake means to cause abraking action automatically when said clutch interrupts drivingconnection between said e'ements and releases said first mentionedelement when said clutch is in driving relation between said elements, asolenoid, means controlled by the solenoidfor releasing said clutch.switch means controlling said solenoid and operable automatically uponthe occurrence of an abnormal operating condition in said machine tocause a release of said clutch, and means also controlled by saidsolenoid for and normally and yieldingly urged into braking shutting oi!the source or power automatically upon the release of said clutch.

6. In a bottle washer comprising a delivery chain having bottlereceiving pockets arranged in succession therealong, an operating motor,a pulley operated by said motor. mechanism for advancing said chainintermittently and having a pulley by which itis driven, a beltconnecting said pulleys and normally too slack to efiect a drivingconnection between them, an idler pulley shiitable in a direction totighten the belt and cause a driving action between said pulleys, meansfor latching said idler pulley in belt tightening position, means foryieldingly urging said idler pulley out of belt tightening position,means responsive to an abnormal operating condition in said washer foroperating said latch to release said idler pulley for movement out ofbelt tightening position, a brake drum driven by said mechanism pulley,brake means shiitable into and out of braking engagement with said drumengagement with said drum by a pressure separate and independent fromsaid urging means for said idler pulley, means normally preventingoperation or said brake means on said drum and connected to said idlerpulley for preventing the action of said brake means on said drum whensaid idler pulley is in belt tightening position and operableautomatically to release said brake means for a braking action wheneversaid pulley is moved out of belt tightening position.

7. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor movable along aselected path and having pockets arranged along the same in thedirection of its movement, to receive and convey the containers to bewashed, a guide disposed in a position to support and guide containerstoward said pockets when in a loading position, said guide having a slotin the bottom thereof, an arm mounted for oscillation below said guideand having its free end slidingly shiftable in a substantially straightline approximately radially of the axis of oscillation of said arm andto a limited extent, means for shifting said free end to its outer limitof movement, in which it extends through said slot sufliciently toengage a container on said guide and, when the arm is rocked, move thecontainer towards the pockets of the conveyor, and means operableautomatically during the return movement of said arm for first shiftingsaid free end below said guide sufliciently to clear any container thatmay be resting on said guide in loading position, keeping said free endbelow said guide until said arm approximately reaches its returnposition, and then releasing it for movement into a, position to move acontainer resting on said guide.

8. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor having pocketstherein to receive the containers, a guide extending toward saidconveyor and in a direction to guide a container toward the conveyor anddischarge it into a pocket therein, said guide being formed to supportthe containers on their sides and direct them in that position towardthe conveyor, an arm mounted for oscillation toward and away from saidconveyor and having a free nd portion slidable endwise of the arm to alimited extent, means resiliently urging said free end outwardly of thearm into a position to engage a container resting on said guide anddirect it, during a forward rocking oscillation of said arm, toward apocket of the conveyor, and cam means engageable with said freeend-portion during the return oscillation or said arm for moving saidfree end toward the axis of oscillation of said arm sufliciently toclear a container in loading position on said guide, holding it in suchcontainer clearing position until the arm approximately reaches theouter end of said guide, and then releasing said free end for movementto a position beyond the outer end of said guide, where, upon the nextforward movement of said arm, said free end will engage any containerresting on said guide and push it toward the conveyor.

9. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong and shiftable by operation of theconveyor in succession through a loading position, a guide extending ina direction away from said loading position and operable to direct acontainer resting thereon into a pocket in loading position, a memberdisposed adjacent said guide and operable to shift a container restingon said guide along said guide into a pocket, means for yieldinglyurging said member in a direction toward said loading position, anabutment opposing movement of said member and movable back and forth inthe directions of movement of said member, means for operating saidconveyor in step by step movements with an interval of rest betweenmovements, in which intervals of rest a pocket is in loading position,and means operable in timed relation to the movements of said conveyorfor shifting said abutment in a direction to release said member formovement to shift a container into a pocket in loading position whilesaid conveyor is at rest, and then back in the opposite direction toreturn said member to starting position, whereby if a container becomesstuck on said guide or fails to fully enter a pocket in loading positionduring operation of said member by said urging means, the abutmentmoving means may continue its movement without injury to the container.

10. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong and shiftable by operation of theconveyor in succession through a loading position, a guide extending ina direction away from said loading position and operable to direct acontainer resting thereon into a pocket in loading position, a memberdisposed adjacent said guide and operable to shift a container restingon said guide along said guide into a pocket, means for yieldinglyurging said member in a direction toward said loading position, anabutment opposing movement of said member and movable back and forth inthe directions of movement of said member, means for operating saidconveyor in step by step movements with an interval of rest betweenmovements, in which intervals of rest a pocket is in loading position,means operable in timed relation to the movements of said conveyor forshifting said abutment in a direction to release said member formovement to shift a container into a pocket in loading position whilesaid conveyor is at rest, and then back in the opposite direction toreturn said member to starting position, whereby if a container becomesstuck on said guide or fails to ful y enter a pocket in loading positionduring operation of said member by urging means, the abutment movingmeans may continue its movement without injury to the container, aswitch operable by relative separation of said member and abutment, andmeans controlled by said switch and rendered eilective by operation ofsaid switch upon separation of said abutment and member forautomatically interrupting the application of power to said conveyor andto said abutment moving means.

11. In a washer for containers comprising a conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong nd shiitable by operation of theconveyor in succession through a loading position, a guide extending ina direction away from said loading position and operable to direct acontainer resting thereon into a pocket in loading position, a memberdisposed adjacent said guide and operable to shift a container restingon said guide along said guide into a pocket, means for yieldinglyurging said member in a direction toward said loading position, anabutment opposing movement of said member and movable back and forth inthe directions of movement of said member, means for operating saidconveyor in step by step movements with an interval of rest betweenmovements, in which intervals of rest a pocket is in loading position,means operable in timed relation to the movements of said conveyor forshifting said abutment in a direction to release said member formovement to shift a container into a pocket in loading position whilesaid conveyor i at rest, and then back in the opposite direction toreturn said member in starting position, whereby if a container becomesstuck on said guide or fails to fully enter a pocket in loading positionduring operation of said member by said urging means, the abutmentmoving means may continue its movement without injury to the container,and means normally out of the path of movement of said member, butmanually operable to engage said member and shift it into startingposition from any position in its movement in shifting a container intoa pocket, and to hold said member releasably in said initial position,irrespective of the position of said abutment, whereby in the case ofjamming of a container being delivered into a pocket, said member may bemanually returned to initial starting position and there held withoutmovement of said conveyor and said abutment,

enabling free access to the container and the guide for removing thejammed container without interference from said member.

12. In a washer for containers, comprising a conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong with respect to its direction ofmovement, a source of power, means operable from said source of powerfor advancing said conveyor in step by step increments of movement withintervals of rest between movements and including a clutch by theoperation of which the delivery of power from said source to saidconveyor may be established or interrupted, means for securing saidclutch in power delivering position between said source and saidconveyor, means urging said clutch yieldingly into power interruptingposition when released from said securing means, means including anelectro-magnet for releasing said clutch from said holding means, aswitch broken by operation of said releasing means under the control ofsaid electro-magnet Whenever said clutch is released. a secondelectro-magnet, means controlled by said second electro-magnet forrendering said source of power effective or ineffective, a holdingcircuit for said second electro-magnet completed by that electro-magnetwhen energized, means including a starting switch for initiallycompleting a circuit through said second electro-magnet, said holdingcircuit including in series therein said first-mentioned switch, and aswitch disposed in a osition for operation automatically upon theoccurrence of an abnormal operating condition in said washer, andthereby causing an operation of said first-mentioned electro-magnet in amanner to open said first mentioned switch and release said clutch,whereby immediately and automatically the conveyor will be disconnectedfrom said source of power, and said source of power will be renderedineifective upon the oc-' currence of said abnormal condition.

13. In a container washer, a conveyor having carrier pockets forcontainers, power means for moving said conveyor by increments andadvancing said pockets successively into and out of a discharge positionat a selected station in the path or movement of said conveyor, acontainer guide disposed adjacent a pocket in said discharge positionfor guiding a container being discharged from said ocket, means forsupporting said guide and yieldable in the general direction oftravel ofthe adjacent portion of said conveyor when subjected to abnormal forcesin said direction, means including an electric circuit and a switch insaid circuit operable by movement of said guide in said generaldirection, for automatically interrupting the application of power tosaid conveyor whenever a container is caught between said guide andconveyor.

14. Ina container handling device, a conveyor having pockets forcontainers arranged in transverse rows, power means for moving saidconveyor by increments and advancing said rows of pockets successivelyinto and out of a discharge position at a selected station in the pathof movement of said conveyor, means disposed to receive the containersdischarged from said pockets in said position, guiding means disposedbetween said receiving means and said pockets in discharge position forguiding the discharged containers to said receiving means, said guidingmeans extending along the row of pockets in discharge position and beingfioatingly mounted at both ends for movement generally parallel to thedirection of travel of the conveyor at said discharge position, a switchdevice at each side of said guiding means and operable at the beginningof any movement of said guiding means at that side in the direction ofmovement of the conveyor at said discharge position, an electric circuitcontrolled in parallel by both of said switch devices, and meanscontrolled by said circuit for automatically interrupting theapplication of power to said conveyor whenever a container is partiallybut not fully discharged from a. pocket in discharge position and whichoverlaps said guiding means.

15. A container handling device comprising a. conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong with respect to its direction ofmovement, a source of power, means operable from said source foradvancing said conveyor in step by step increments of movement withintervals of rest between movements, and including a clutch by theoperation oiwhich delivery of power from said source to the conveyor maybe established or interrupted, means for mechanically holding saidclutch in power-delivering condition between said source and saidconveyor, means yieldingly urging said clutch into powerinterruptingcondition when released by said holding means, an electromagnet having amovable armature, means connecting said armature to said holding meansto release said clutch from said holding means, a lurality of safetyswitches automatically operable for different abnormal operatingconditions, and connected in parallel to one another to control thecircuit through said electromagnet, whereby the operation of any one ofsaid switches will cause operation of said electromagnet, anelectromagnet controlling the activity of said source of power andhaving a sellclosed holding circuit, a starting switch for said secondelectromagnet, and a normally closed switch in said holding circuit andopened by said first electromagnet when the armature oi the latter isoperated to release said clutch and'stop movements of the conveyor. 1

18. A container handling device comprising a conveyor having containerreceiving pockets arranged in succession therealong, a source oi power,means operated by said source for advancing said conveyor intermittentlyby increments, said means including therein a clutch, means urging saidclutch in a direction to open the drive connection between said sourceand said conveyor, and said clutch having an operating shaft which byrotation connects and disconnects said source to said conveyor advancingmeans, means yieldingly urging said shaft in a direction to open saidclutch, a member carried by said shaft and having a shoulder thereon. alatch yieldingly urged against said member and into latching engagementbehind said shoulder when said clutch couples said source to saidconveyor. an operating arm disposed adjacent one end of the conveyor,means connecting said arm to said shaft by which operation of said armwill rock said shaft in a direction to engage said clutch, and meansresponsive to abnormal operating conditions of said conveyor for movingsaid latch out of engagement with said shoulder to release said shaftand cause an opening of the clutch.

1'7. A container handling device comprising a conveyor having pocketsarranged in succession therealong and shiftable successively throughloading position by increments of movement of said conveyor, means forfeeding containers into said pockets as said pockets move throughloading position and including a member mounted for rocking movementback and forth about a fixed axis, means yieldingly urging said memberto rock in a direction to feed a container toward a pocket in loadingposition, an abutment element disposed in a position to hold said memberin its initial position against the action of its urging means and tomove in the direction of rocking movement of said member in order toallow said member to follow it and cause a feeding of a container to apocket in loading position, said element being operable back and forthin timed relation to the increments of movement of said conveyor and bywhich said member is allowed to rock in a container feeding directionwhile said conveyor is idle, switch means carried by said rocking memberand operable upon relative movement between said abutment element andthe part of said member against which it abuts, whereby if said rockingmember fails to follow said abutment element at any time in a feedingmovement, this relative separation will cause an operation of saidswitch, and means controlled by said switch for interrupting theoperation of said conveyor when said switch is operated by failure ofsaid rocking member to follow said abutment element.

18. A loading device comprising a conveyor

